03:49In a groundbreaking discovery, Argentinian paleontologists have unearthed a new specimen of the formidable Taurovenator violantei in the Rio Negro province.
Footage captured on Saturday shows Paleontologist and Doctor of Natural Sciences from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) Matias Motta examining dinosauf bones and taking notes. The skeletons of various dinosaurs are also seen being exhibited at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences.
Motta explained that the dinosaur's bones were found in the Pueblo Blanco Nature Reserve in Rio Negro during expeditions that have been carried out since 2013 in co-operation with the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences and researchers from the Tokyo Museum of Natural Sciences.
"These fossils were found [...] together with the fossils of other types of dinosaurs such as long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs, small and rather agile bipedal dinosaurs and other types of carnivores. However, Taurovenator violantei is the largest carnivore that existed at this time and tells us what the top predator of this locality is," he explained.
This find, consisting of a nearly complete skeleton, sheds light on the predatory dinosaur that roamed the region approximately 90 million years ago.
According to Motta, the Taurovenator violantei, a fierce rival to the Tyrannosaurus rex, is known for its impressive size, estimated at 11 metres in length with an approximate 1.2 metres long skull.
Motta noted that the specimen found allowed paleontologists to better understand the dinosaur's neck. He said the bones suggest the animal's neck had a lot of "strength to be able to support the great weight of the skull." He also added that the fossils indicate that the Taurovenator violantei had 'extremely short' arms that compare to 'the size of a human'.
"These new materials allow us to understand much more about the life of this animal. They allow us to complete this puzzle due to the amount of material we found, including the skull, the arm, part of the foot and the spine," the palaeontologist concluded.
The discovery of Taurovenator violantei, a significant carcharodontosaurid dinosaur, began with the unearthing of its first bone in 2005. Subsequent finds from 2018 to 2023 have included vertebrae, leg bones and nearly complete forelimbs, highlighting the 11-metre length and five-tonne weight of this predator.
The Rio Negro region, near the Ezequiel Ramos Mexia dam, has been a paleontological hotspot, yielding other remarkable species such as the carnivorous Tralkasaurus cuyi and the colossal herbivore Chucarosaurus diripienda.
Prehistoric discoveries! Argentinian archaeologists discover new specimen of Taurovenator violante dinosaur in Rio Negro
In a groundbreaking discovery, Argentinian paleontologists have unearthed a new specimen of the formidable Taurovenator violantei in the Rio Negro province.
Footage captured on Saturday shows Paleontologist and Doctor of Natural Sciences from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) Matias Motta examining dinosauf bones and taking notes. The skeletons of various dinosaurs are also seen being exhibited at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences.
Motta explained that the dinosaur's bones were found in the Pueblo Blanco Nature Reserve in Rio Negro during expeditions that have been carried out since 2013 in co-operation with the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences and researchers from the Tokyo Museum of Natural Sciences.
"These fossils were found [...] together with the fossils of other types of dinosaurs such as long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs, small and rather agile bipedal dinosaurs and other types of carnivores. However, Taurovenator violantei is the largest carnivore that existed at this time and tells us what the top predator of this locality is," he explained.
This find, consisting of a nearly complete skeleton, sheds light on the predatory dinosaur that roamed the region approximately 90 million years ago.
According to Motta, the Taurovenator violantei, a fierce rival to the Tyrannosaurus rex, is known for its impressive size, estimated at 11 metres in length with an approximate 1.2 metres long skull.
Motta noted that the specimen found allowed paleontologists to better understand the dinosaur's neck. He said the bones suggest the animal's neck had a lot of "strength to be able to support the great weight of the skull." He also added that the fossils indicate that the Taurovenator violantei had 'extremely short' arms that compare to 'the size of a human'.
"These new materials allow us to understand much more about the life of this animal. They allow us to complete this puzzle due to the amount of material we found, including the skull, the arm, part of the foot and the spine," the palaeontologist concluded.
The discovery of Taurovenator violantei, a significant carcharodontosaurid dinosaur, began with the unearthing of its first bone in 2005. Subsequent finds from 2018 to 2023 have included vertebrae, leg bones and nearly complete forelimbs, highlighting the 11-metre length and five-tonne weight of this predator.
The Rio Negro region, near the Ezequiel Ramos Mexia dam, has been a paleontological hotspot, yielding other remarkable species such as the carnivorous Tralkasaurus cuyi and the colossal herbivore Chucarosaurus diripienda.
In a groundbreaking discovery, Argentinian paleontologists have unearthed a new specimen of the formidable Taurovenator violantei in the Rio Negro province.
Footage captured on Saturday shows Paleontologist and Doctor of Natural Sciences from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) Matias Motta examining dinosauf bones and taking notes. The skeletons of various dinosaurs are also seen being exhibited at the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences.
Motta explained that the dinosaur's bones were found in the Pueblo Blanco Nature Reserve in Rio Negro during expeditions that have been carried out since 2013 in co-operation with the Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences and researchers from the Tokyo Museum of Natural Sciences.
"These fossils were found [...] together with the fossils of other types of dinosaurs such as long-necked herbivorous dinosaurs, small and rather agile bipedal dinosaurs and other types of carnivores. However, Taurovenator violantei is the largest carnivore that existed at this time and tells us what the top predator of this locality is," he explained.
This find, consisting of a nearly complete skeleton, sheds light on the predatory dinosaur that roamed the region approximately 90 million years ago.
According to Motta, the Taurovenator violantei, a fierce rival to the Tyrannosaurus rex, is known for its impressive size, estimated at 11 metres in length with an approximate 1.2 metres long skull.
Motta noted that the specimen found allowed paleontologists to better understand the dinosaur's neck. He said the bones suggest the animal's neck had a lot of "strength to be able to support the great weight of the skull." He also added that the fossils indicate that the Taurovenator violantei had 'extremely short' arms that compare to 'the size of a human'.
"These new materials allow us to understand much more about the life of this animal. They allow us to complete this puzzle due to the amount of material we found, including the skull, the arm, part of the foot and the spine," the palaeontologist concluded.
The discovery of Taurovenator violantei, a significant carcharodontosaurid dinosaur, began with the unearthing of its first bone in 2005. Subsequent finds from 2018 to 2023 have included vertebrae, leg bones and nearly complete forelimbs, highlighting the 11-metre length and five-tonne weight of this predator.
The Rio Negro region, near the Ezequiel Ramos Mexia dam, has been a paleontological hotspot, yielding other remarkable species such as the carnivorous Tralkasaurus cuyi and the colossal herbivore Chucarosaurus diripienda.